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Kinsler named Rangers' Clemente Award nominee

Kinsler named Rangers' Clemente Award nominee

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By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. The overall winner will be announced during the World Series.

Tuesday is Roberto Clemente Day throughout Major League Baseball, a day instituted on the 30th anniversary of his passing in 1972 to keep alive Clemente's spirit of giving. Voting runs from Tuesday through Oct. 6 at chevybaseball.com as fans help decide which of those 30 club winners will receive this prestigious recognition. The nominees were chosen based on their dedication to giving back to the community, as well as their outstanding ability on the field.

Kinsler is a three-time All-Star who was also the 2008 recepient of the Rangers Jim Sundberg Community Achievement Award for his service to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He is on the Board of Directors of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. His community work has been a collaborative effort with his wife, Tess.

"The Rangers are proud of the work that Ian Kinsler does to influence the lives of so many youngsters in our community," Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan said. "We salute him for his extraordinary efforts."

In 2009, the Kinslers created Kinsler's Kids, a program that provides tickets for children to Rangers home games. That includes outings for the Sunshine Kids, which is comprised of children receiving cancer treatment at Medical City of Dallas Children's Hospital and Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth. He has served as the honorary chairman of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots for the Rangers' holiday program.

In 2009, Kinsler provided funding to refurbish the workspace at Oak Cliff's Alley House, an organization that assists teenage mothers in continuing their education while they receive child care. In 2010, he helped provide funds to the Cedar Hill High School baseball program to replace equipment stolen during a robbery. He also assisted in fundraising toward the Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

Sales from his nutritional growth chart benefitted the Elisa Project and the Rangers Foundation. He has made donations to the Arlington Miracle League, the Belia's Blessings Foundation and the Resource Recovery Council Day Camp. He has sponsored the Rangers Summer Reading Club and helped fund participation for Make A Wish, the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot and the Birthday Party Project.

"It's all about helping kids," Kinsler said. "I like the fact that the Texas Rangers Foundation puts its main focus on youth programs. Anytime you can make a young person smile, it is definitely gratifying and it really puts the rest of our lives in perspective. I am honored to be recognized as the Texas Rangers' Roberto Clemente Award nominee and equally honored to be named as a finalist for the league-wide honor."

Kinsler entered play Monday hitting .271 with 72 runs scored, 11 home runs and 62 RBIs for this season.